Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesAre They Needed?KidsAdultsNondrug FormsWhen Fever Won’t Go Down
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types
Are They Needed?
Kids
Adults
Nondrug Forms
When Fever Won’t Go Down
Afever reduceris something used to help bring down afever. This could be a medication such as Advil (ibuprofen) or Tylenol (acetaminophen), or a natural remedy. Fever reducers may differ for children vs. adults.
This article discusses fever-reducing medications and other ways to help bring down a fever.
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Types of Fever Reducers
For most people, a normal body temperature is 98.6 degrees F. If a higher body temperature persists, you may start to look for ways to lower it. A rectal temperature is sometimes taken in children under age 3; a rectal temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher is considered afever. An oral temperature of 99.5 degrees or higher is considered a fever in children.
In adults, afeveris generally considered to be a temperature over 99 degrees to 99.5 degrees (depending on the time of day, as normal body temperature is lower in the morning and higher in the afternoon).
Over-the-counter (OTC) medications that help to reduce a fever include acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Common OTC Fever ReducersThe various names for medicines toreduce a fevercan get confusing. Here are common brand names. Some of these are combination medications, so they include fever-reducing medicine along with other medicines:Acetaminophen brand names: Tylenol, Actamin, Feverall, Panadol, Tempra Quicklets, Dayquil, Nyquil Cold/Flu ReliefAspirin brand names: Anacin Aspirin Regimen, Bayer, Bufferin, Empirin, Genacote, Miniprin, Uni-Buff, Alka-Seltzer, Anacin Advanced Headache Formula, ExcedrinIbuprofen brand names: Advil, Midol, Motrin, NeoProfen, Ultrapin, Advil PMNaproxen brand names: Aleve, Anaprex, Naprosyn, Aleve PM
Common OTC Fever Reducers
The various names for medicines toreduce a fevercan get confusing. Here are common brand names. Some of these are combination medications, so they include fever-reducing medicine along with other medicines:Acetaminophen brand names: Tylenol, Actamin, Feverall, Panadol, Tempra Quicklets, Dayquil, Nyquil Cold/Flu ReliefAspirin brand names: Anacin Aspirin Regimen, Bayer, Bufferin, Empirin, Genacote, Miniprin, Uni-Buff, Alka-Seltzer, Anacin Advanced Headache Formula, ExcedrinIbuprofen brand names: Advil, Midol, Motrin, NeoProfen, Ultrapin, Advil PMNaproxen brand names: Aleve, Anaprex, Naprosyn, Aleve PM
The various names for medicines toreduce a fevercan get confusing. Here are common brand names. Some of these are combination medications, so they include fever-reducing medicine along with other medicines:
Which drug is right for you will depend on your age, the medical conditions you have, the other medicines you take, and side effects of these drugs.
Some side effects associated with NSAIDs are indigestion, dizziness, drowsiness, and stomach ulcers (from long-term or excessive use).Side effects associated with acetaminophen include an allergic reaction, which also may happen with NSAIDs.Not everyone using these medications will experience side effects.
Are Fever Reducers Always Needed?
Fever reducers aren’t always needed if you or someone else you care for has a fever. A fever is the body’s way of fighting off illness. A fever can help kill bacteria and viruses. It also can help the body produce white blood cells, which can fight off infection.
However, you should treat a fever if you or a child you’re caring for feels uncomfortable or if the fever is higher than 102 degrees.
Fever Reducer Recap: Which Ones Are Kid-Safe?
Kid-safe medicines to reduce fever include acetaminophen and ibuprofen. These can help your child find relief if they have a fever, body aches, or a headache.
It’s important to avoid aspirin if your child or teen has a fever. In children, aspirin is associated with side effects such as:
Chart sources: Aspirin,acetaminophen,ibuprofen
Acetaminophenandibuprofencan help your child feel better if they have a headache, body aches, or a fever that makes them uncomfortable.
Acetaminophen comes in liquid, pill, and suppository (placed in the rectum) forms. The latter may be useful if your child is throwing up and can’t keep down medications taken orally.
Ibuprofen is available as a liquid and as chewable tablets. The liquid form has a version for infants and another for toddlers and children through age 11. The infant form is more concentrated.Do not use ibuprofen in babies who are under 6 months old.
Always follow any instructions on labels for dosing. Often, dosing is based on your child’s weight. Carefully check the label and use an accurate measuring device for liquid medications (such as a syringe or tool that comes with the medicine rather than a kitchen spoon).
Do not give a multi-ingredient product to a child under age 6.These might combine acetaminophen or ibuprofen with a decongestant or cough suppressant. For example, many such medications are labeled as cold or flu products.
Although some healthcare providers say it’s OK to alternate between acetaminophen and ibuprofen, others caution against it as it could lead to more medicine errors and side effects.You may want to discuss this further with a healthcare provider.
It can take 30 to 60 minutes for a fever-reducing medicine to begin to work.
Fever Reducer Recap: What Adults Use
Safety VariesTalk to your healthcare provider about which fever reducer is best for you given your age, health conditions, and other medications, supplements, or herbal remedies you take.
Safety Varies
Talk to your healthcare provider about which fever reducer is best for you given your age, health conditions, and other medications, supplements, or herbal remedies you take.
You may want to consider the side effects of these medications when choosing which one to use. Although not everyone will have side effects, it’s good to consider them in advance if you are prone to certain side effects or drug reactions.
Some side effects from acetaminophen are:
Some side effects associated with aspirin are:
Some side effects associated with ibuprofenand naproxeninclude:
NSAIDs, including aspirin,ibuprofen,and naproxen,have a risk of severe stomach bleeding. This risk is higher if you are age 60 or older, are taking a blood thinner, have a history of stomach ulcers or bleeding problems, or have three or more alcoholic beverages a day while taking the product.
Except for aspirin, NSAIDs (including ibuprofen and naproxen) increase the risk of heart attack, heart failure, and stroke.
Nondrug Fever Reducers: The Natural Approach
If you don’t want to use medications or you want to try some natural fever reducers in addition to medicines, here are a few things that you can do:
When Fever Won’t Go Down After a Fever Reducer
You should also contact a healthcare provider if other symptoms that may need to be treated are present, such as a sore throat, earache, or cough.
It’s also important to get in touch right away with a healthcare provider if you or the person you care for also has a serious chronic condition, such as a heart problem or diabetes.
Summary
Fevers are the body’s way of fighting infection. Not all fevers need treatment. Acetaminophen and NSAIDs are two types of medicines to help treat fever. Some medicines, such as aspirin, should not be used to treat fever in children and teens. Always read and follow instructions on how to give medications for fever and at what dosage.
There also are natural ways to reduce fever, such as wearing light clothing and taking a lukewarm bath. In some instances, you should see a healthcare provider for a fever. When in doubt, check in with a healthcare provider for more guidance.
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Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Stanford Medicine Children’s Health.Not all fevers need treatment.Penn Medicine.Fever,Nationwide Children’s.Acetaminophen vs ibuprofen: What’s the difference?NHS.NSAIDs.Medline Plus.Acetaminophen.HealthyChildren.org.Treating your child’s fever.American Academy of Pediatrics.Reye syndrome.American Academy of Pediatrics.Acetaminophen dosing tables for fever and pain in children.American Academy of Pediatrics.Ibuprofen dosing table for fever and pain.American Academy of Pediatrics.Treating your child’s fever.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Fever.University Hospitals.The do’s and don’ts of treating your child’s fever.Mercy Care.Tylenol & Advil: When to use which.MedlinePlus.Aspirin.DailyMed.Label: Advanced aspirin—aspirin tablet.DailyMed.Label: Aramark ibuprofen—ibuprofen tablet.DailyMed.Label: naproxen sodium (NSAID) fever reducer/pain reliever—naproxen sodium tablet.MedlinePlus.Naproxen.Harvard Health.Fever in adults.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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MedlinePlus.Aspirin.
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